Pharmaceutical products must be manufactured and controlled according to strict standards to ensure their quality, safety and efficacy.
Without proper controls, unregistered medicinal products can jeopardise consumer health and safety.
One existing system for verifying the authenticity of such products is the Health Ministry's security hologram label. However, recent claims have surfaced alleging that the verification system is not functioning as intended.
Is this true?
VERDICT:
False
The Health Ministry has refuted claims that its hologram label verification mechanism, known as FarmaTag, is not functioning.
In a statement on Wednesday (April 22), it said the verification system remains one of the key components in the regulatory ecosystem of the Drug Control Authority (DCA).
The ministry added that it continuously conducts comprehensive monitoring, including product registration, licensing and supply chain audits to ensure consumer safety.
As part of ongoing digitalisation in addressing counterfeiting issues, the MyUBAT application has been upgraded to serve as an integrated platform for verifying the authenticity of product safety labels.
Product authenticity can also be verified at licensed pharmacy premises equipped with the Health Ministry's dedicated verification devices.
The public is urged to obtain products from legitimate premises, use the MyUBAT app for verification purposes, and promptly report any suspicions to the authorities.
First introduced as Meditag in 2005, the Health Ministry's security label system was renamed FarmaTag in September 2019 and made mandatory for all pharmaceutical products starting October 2, 2025.
The system aims to help consumers quickly identify the authenticity of health products, including via QR code verification through the MyUBAT app.
